Mesozoic Rocks Dredged from Northern Exmouth Plateau

Australian Ocean Data Network provides geological samples dredged from the northern Exmouth Plateau in water depths of 2000-5600 meters. The dataset includes detailed petrography and microfacies analysis defining seven lithofacies associations from Late Triassic to Cainozoic periods. Samples were collected by R.V. Sonne (Cruise SO-8) and R.V. Rig Seismic (BMR Cruise 56) along seismic reflection profiles.

Use Cases

• Classifying lithofacies associations based on detailed petrography and microfacies analysis.
• Correlating shallow water carbonate microfacies with coeval platform carbonates in the Alps and Mediterranean.
• Studying diagenetic transformations involving silica, silicates, carbonates, and phosphates.
• Analyzing the depositional history from rift volcanics to hemipelagic marls across the Late Triassic to Cainozoic time range.
• Mapping the spatial distribution of facies associations between the Swan Canyon and Wombat Plateau areas.

Strengths

• Analysis defines seven major lithofacies associations.
• Includes 14 Late Triassic-Callovian microfacies types of shallow water carbonates.
• Samples collected from water depths spanning 2000 to 5600 meters.
• Data covers a broad temporal range from Late Triassic to Cainozoic.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing on a specific plateau margin.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Dredging along seismic reflection profiles by research vessels.

Time Range

Late Triassic to Cainozoic

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-05 02:22:51.832116; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northern margin of the Exmouth Plateau, southeastern margin of Tethys, Swan Canyon and Wombat Plateau areas.